tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633Fri, 09 Dec 2016 17:34:44 +0000Canada CupTeam CanadaAustraliaMiracle On IceWinnipeg Falcons1936 Olympics1972 Summit SeriesAarne HonkavaaraAb RenaudAlexander AlmetovAlexander BodunovAlexander GusevAlexander MaltsevAlexander PashkovAlexander RagulinAlexander SidelnikovAlexander UvarovAlexander YakushevAlexei GuryshevAlexei KasatonovAnatoli FirsovAnatoli SemenovAnatoli TarasovAnders EldebrinkAnders MyrvoldAndy RoachArto JavanainenAttila AmbrusAustriaBallad of the Whiskey RobberBarry MacKenzieBeattie RamsayBela OrdodyBibi TorrianiBill ClearyBill GibsonBilly ColvinBjorn SkaareBlake WatsonBob ClearyBobby OrrBohumil ModryBohuslav StastnyBoris MikhailovBorje SalmingCarl-Goran ÖbergChick ZamickChris FridfinnsonClaude VilgrainCoddy WintersConnie BrodenConstantine CantacuzinoDarryl SlyDave ChristianDave CunninghamDavid QuinnDel St. JohnDon RopeDunc MunroEduard NovakEdward IvanovEinar SvenssonEje LindstromElmars BaurisEric LindrosErich KoneckiErich KuhnhacklEriks KoneckisErkki LaineErnest AljancicEspen KnutsenEvgeny PaladievEvgeny ZiminFabian JosephFerdinand CattiniFrank FredericksonFrank RankinFrantisek PospisilFrantisek TikalGebi PolteraGennady TsygankovGenrikh SidorenkovGeorge AbelGeorge MaraGrigory MkrtychanGustav JaeneckeHakan WickbergHank AkervallHans CattiniHans-Martin TreppHarijs VitolinsHarry MellupsHarry WatsonHelmut BalderisHerb DruryHugh PlaxtonIgor LarionovIgor LibaInternational hockey starsIvan TregubovJIri BicekJack CameronJack McCartanJan PekaJan SuchyJanez AlbrehtJaroslav DrobnyJaroslav HolikJaroslav JirikJim CraigJim SedinJimmy FosterJiri BublaJiri DudacekJiri HolecekJiri HolikJiri HrdinaJiri NovakJoe LinderJohn DevaneyJohn MayasichJorgen JonssonJozef GolonkaJulian RubinsteinKarel GutKarl FriesenKen YackelKenny JonssonKonstantin LoktevLadislav TrojakLars BjornLasse BjornLatviaLeif HolmqvistLennart SvedbergLeonids VedejsLill-StrimmaMario LemieuxMark JohnsonMark MessierMartin HostakMatti HagmanMax BirbraerMike EruzioneMike RichterMike RosatiMilan NovyMilos HolanMiroslav DvorakMoe BenoitMonte AfzeliusMoose GoheenMorris MottMurray DoweyNikolai DrozdetskyNikolai KhlystovNikolai PuchkovNikolai SologubovNorwayOldrich MachacPaul DipietroPaul HendersonPauli JaksPavel PateraPekka RautakallioPetr HejmaPetter ThoresenPhilippe BozonPierre AllardRaimo HelminenRalf AdamowskiRay LeBlancReg SchroeterRino AlbertonRobert MuellerRobert ReichelRoger BourbonnaisRoger ChristianRoland StoltzRomaniaRudi BallRudi HitiRussell JonesScott YoungSean BurkeSergei BabinovSergei MakarovSergei PriakhinSergei PriakinSergei ShepelevSergei SvetlovSeth MartinSigfrid ObergSimo SaarinenSoviet hockeyStanislav KonopasekStanislav PetukhovStelio ZupancichStephen FoynSteve JanaszakSteve NemethSven TumbaTeiji HonmaTony AmonteTony ArimaTony HandTrail Smoke EatersTumba JohanssonUdo KiesslingUlf SternerUli PolteraUniversity of WisconsinVaclav NedomanskyValentin KuzinValeri KharlamovValeri VasilievVenjamin AlexandrovViacheslav FetisovVictor NechaevViktor BlinovViktor KhatulevViktor KuzkinViktor ShuvalovViktor ZingerVladimir DzurillaVladimir KrutovVladimir LutchenkoVladimir MartinecVladimir MyshkinVladimir PetrovVladimir ShadrinVladimir ZabrodskyVladislav TretiakVlastimil BubnikVsevolod BobrovVyacheslav AnisinVyacheslav BykovWally HalderWayne GretzkyWeldy OlsonWhiskey RobberWieslaw JobczykWillard IkolaWimbledonWinthrop "Ding" PalmerYevgeny BabichYevgeny MishakovYuri BlinovInternational Hockey LegendsInternational Hockey Legendshttp://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)Blogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-7307542786542748845Mon, 09 Mar 2015 03:49:00 +00002015-03-08T20:49:31.291-07:00International hockey starsInternational Hockey Legends<table border="0" style="width: 364px;"><tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="184"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Australia</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/dave-cunningham.html">Dave Cunningham</a></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/russell-jones.html">Russell Jones</a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Austria</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/del-st-john.html">Del St. John</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/dr-blake-watson.html">Dr. Blake Watson<br /><br /></a> <b>Canada</b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/08/hank-akervall.html"><br /></a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/george-abel.html">George Abel</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/08/hank-akervall.html">Hank Akervall</a>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/moe-benoit.html">Moe Benoit</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/04/roger-bourbonnais.html">Roger Bourbonnais</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/connie-broden.html">Connie Broden<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/sean-burke.html">Sean Burke<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/jack-cameron.html">Jack Cameron</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2010/11/billy-colvin.html">Billy Colvin</a></span><br /><a href="http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2013/06/bill-dawe-passes-away.html">Bill Dawe</a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/01/john-devaney.html">John Devaney</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/murray-dowey.html">Murray Dowey</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/05/frank-frederickson.html">Frank Frederickson</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/12/chris-fridfinnson.html">Chris Fridfinnson</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/bill-gibson.html">Bill Gibson</a><a href="http://oilerslegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/dr-randy-gregg.html"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span>Randy Gregg</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/12/chris-fridfinnson.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/wayne-gretzky.html">Wayne Gretzky</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/wally-halder.html">Wally Halder</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/wayne-gretzky.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/paul-henderson.html">Paul Henderson</a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/fabian-joseph.html"><br />Fabian Joseph</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/mario-lemieux.html">Mario Lemieux<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/eric-lindros.html">Eric Lindros<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/barry-mackenzie.html">Barry MacKenzie</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/george-mara.html">George Mara</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/barry-mackenzie.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/smoke-eater-seth-martin.html">Seth Martin<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/mark-messier.html">Mark Messier</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/morris-mott.html">Morris Mott</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/mark-messier.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/dunc-munro.html">Dunc Munro</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/01/steve-nemeth.html">Steve Nemeth</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/dunc-munro.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/hugh-plaxton.html">Hugh Plaxton<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/beattie-ramsay.html">Beattie Ramsay</a></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/ab-renaud.html">Ab Renaud</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/don-rope.html">Don Rope</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/reg-schroeter.html">Reg Schroeter</a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://oilerslegends.blogspot.com/2013/01/gord-sherven.html">Gord Sherven</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/darryl-sly.html"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span>Darryl Sly</a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/beattie-ramsay.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/03/harry-moose-watson.html">Harry Watson</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/01/stelio-zupancich.html">Stelio Zupancich</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/03/harry-moose-watson.html"><br /><br /></a> <b>Czech Republic</b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/07/jiri-bubla.html"><br />Jiri Bubla</a></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/vlastimil-bubnik.html">Vlastimil Bubnik</a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2012/05/josef-cerny-international-classics.html">Josef Cerny</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/07/jiri-bubla.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/jaroslav-drobny.html">Jaroslav Drobny</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/12/jiri-dudacek.html">Jiri Dudacek<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/miroslav-dvorak.html">Miroslav Dvorak</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/karel-gut.html">Karel Gut</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/miroslav-dvorak.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://sabreslegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/dominik-hasek.html">Dominik Hasek</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/08/petr-hejma.html">Petr Hejma</a><a href="http://sabreslegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/dominik-hasek.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/01/milos-holan.html">Milos Holan<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/10/jiri-holecek.html">Jiri Holecek</a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/jaroslav-holik.html"><br />Jaroslav Holik</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/jiri-holik.html"><br />Jiri Holik</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/08/martin-hostak.html">Martin Hostak</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/jiri-hrdina.html"><br />Jiri Hrdina</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/08/martin-hostak.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/jaroslav-jirik.html">Jaroslav Jirik</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/stanislav-konopasek.html"><br />Stanislav Konopasek</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2010/12/oldrich-machac.html">Oldrich Machac</a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/jaroslav-jirik.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/10/vladimir-martinec.html">Vladimir Martinec</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/bohumil-modry.html"><br />Bohumil Modry</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2010/10/eduard-novak.html">Eduard Novak</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/10/vladimir-martinec.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/10/jiri-novak.html">Jiri Novak<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/09/milan-novy.html">Milan Novy</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/pavel-patera.html">Pavel Patera</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/jan-peka.html"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span>Jan Peka</a></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2010/12/frantisek-pospisil.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Frantisek Popisil</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/09/milan-novy.html"> </a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/robert-reichel.html">Robert Reichel<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/10/bohuslav-stastny.html">Bohuslav Stastny </a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/jan-suchy.html">Jan Suchy<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/frantisek-tikal.html">Frantisek Tikal </a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/vladimir-zabrodsky.html">Vladimir Zabrodsky<br /><br /></a> <b>Finland<br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/tony-arima.html">Tony Arima</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/matti-hagman.html"></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/matti-hagman.html">Matti Hagman</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/raimo-helminen.html"><br />Raimo Helminen</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/matti-hagman.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/aarne-honkavaara.html">Aarne Honkavaara</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/01/arto-javanainen.html">Arto Javananian</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/08/erkki-laine.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span> Erkki Laine</a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/aarne-honkavaara.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/pekka-rautakallio.html">Pekka Rautakallio<br /></a><a href="http://nyrangerslegends.blogspot.com/2010/03/simo-saarinen.html">Simo Saarinen</a><br /><br /> <b>France</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/07/philippe-bozon.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/pierre-allard.html">Pierre Allard</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/07/philippe-bozon.html"></a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/07/philippe-bozon.html">Philippe Bozon</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/pekka-rautakallio.html"> <br /> </a> <b>Germany<br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/rudi-ball.html">Rudi Ball<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/karl-friesen.html">Karl Friesen</a>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/08/petr-hejma.html">Petr Hejma</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/gustav-jaenecke.html">Gustav Jaenecke<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/udo-kiessling.html">Udo Kiessling </a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/erich-kuhnhackl.html">Erich Kuhnhackl<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/robert-mueller.html">Robert Mueller </a> <br /><br /><b>Great Britain<br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/jimmy-foster-controversial-star-of-1936.html">Jimmy Foster</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/01/tony-hand.html">Tony Hand</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2014/02/british-hockey-legend-pep-young-passes.html">Pep Young</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/01/tony-hand.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/chick-zamick.html">Chick Zimick<br /></a><b><br />Hungary<br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/04/attila-ambrus.html">Attila Ambrus</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/bela-ordody.html">Bela Ordody</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/04/attila-ambrus.html"><br /><br /></a> <b>Israel</b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/12/max-birbraer.html"><br />Max Birbraer</a></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/04/attila-ambrus.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></a><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Italy</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/rino-alberton.html">Rino Alberton</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/12/mike-rosati.html">Mike Rosati</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Latvia</span></b><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/helmut-balderis.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Helmut Balderis</span></a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/02/elmars-bauris.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elmars Bauris</span></a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/03/viktor-khatulev.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Viktor Khatulev&nbsp;</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/02/harry-mellups.html">Harry Mellups</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/leonids-vedejs.html">Leonids Vedejs</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/harijs-vitolins.html">Harijs Vitolins</a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/12/mike-rosati.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></a><b>Norway<br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/stephen-foyn.html">Stephen Foyn</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/espen-knutsen.html">Espen Knutsen</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/anders-myrvold.html">Anders Myrvold<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/02/bjorne-skaare.html">Bjorne Skaare<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/10/petter-thoresen.html">Petter Thoresen </a> </span></td> <td valign="top" width="166"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Poland<br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/ralf-adamowski.html">Ralf Adamowski</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/wieslaw-jobczyk.html"></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/wieslaw-jobczyk.html">Wieslaw Jobczyk&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Romania</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/constantine-bazu-cantacuzino.html">Constantine Cantacuzino</a><br /><br /><b>Russia</b><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/venjamin-alexandrov.html">Venjamin Alexandrov</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/alexander-almetov.html">Alexander Almetov</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/vyacheslav-anisin.html">Vyacheslav Anisin<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/yevgeny-babich.html">Yevgeny Babich</a>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/12/sergei-babinov.html">Sergei Babinov</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/evgeny-belosheikin.html">Evgeny Belosheikin</a>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/06/viktor-blinov.html">Viktor Blinov</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/yuri-blinov.html">Yuri Blinov<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/09/vsevolod-bobrov.html">Vsevolod Bobrov</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/alexander-bodunov.html">Alexander Bodunov<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/vyacheslav-bykov.html">Vyacheslav Bykov<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/03/nikolai-drozdetsky.html">Nikolai Drozdetsky</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/02/viacheslav-fetisov.html">Viacheslav Fetisov</a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/anatoli-firsov.html">Anatoli Firsov<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/08/edward-ivanov.html">Edward Ivanov</a><br /><a href="http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2011/09/alexander-galimov-dies.html">Alexander Galimov</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/alexei-guryshev.html">Alexei Guryshev&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/02/alexei-kasatonov.html">Alexei Kasatonov</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/valeri-kharlamov.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">Valeri Kharlamov</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/nikolai-khlystov.html">Nikolai Khlystov</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/vladimir-krutov.html">Vladimir Krutov&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/valentin-kuzin.html">Valentin Kuzin</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/viktor-kuzkin.html">Viktor Kuzkin<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/06/igor-larionov.html">Igor Larionov</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/konstantin-loktev.html"><br />Konstantin Loktev</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/08/vladimir-lutchenko.html">Vladimir Lutchenko</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/06/igor-larionov.html"><br /></a></span><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/06/igor-larionov.html"></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/sergei-makarov.html">Sergei Makarov </a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/alexander-maltsev.html">Alexander Maltsev<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/boris-mikhailov.html">Boris Mikhailov&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/02/grigory-mkrtychan.html">Grigori Mkrtychan</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.ca/2013/07/vladimir-myshkin.html">Vladimir Myshkin</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/victor-nechaev.html">Victor Nechaev<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/vladimir-petrov.html">Vladimir Petrov</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2010/12/stanislav-petukhov.html">Stanislav Petukhov</a>&nbsp; <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/sergei-priakhin.html">Sergei Priakhin</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/nikolai-puchkov.html">Nikolai Puchkov</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/sergei-priakhin.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/alexander-ragulin.html">Alexander Ragulin<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/anatoli-semenov.html">Anatoli Semenov&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/08/vladimir-shadrin.html">Vladimir Shadrin</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/sergei-shepelev.html">Sergei Shepelev</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/viktor-shuvalov.html">Viktor Shuvalov</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/sergei-shepelev.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/alexander-sidelnikov.html">Alexander Sidelnikov</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/genrikh-sidorenkov.html">Genrikh Sidorenkov</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/12/nikolai-sologubov.html">Nikolai Sologubov</a></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/07/sergei-svetlov.html">Sergei Svetlov</a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/09/anatoli-tarasov.html">Anatoli Tarasov</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/ivan-tregubov.html">Ivan Tregubov</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/12/nikolai-sologubov.html"><br /></a></span><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/12/nikolai-sologubov.html"></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/07/vladislav-tretiak.html">Vladislav Tretiak</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/05/gennady-tsygankov.html">Gennady Tsygankov</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/alexander-uvarov.html"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span>Alexander Uvarov</a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/07/vladislav-tretiak.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/valeri-vasiliev.html">Valeri Vasiliev</a></span><br /><a href="http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2013/08/vladimir-vikulov-passes-away-at-age-67.html">Vladimir Vikulov</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/08/alexander-yakushev.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alexander Yakushev</span></a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/08/viktor-zinger.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Viktor Zinger</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />Slovenia<br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/04/janez-albreht.html">Janez Albreht</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/ernest-aljancic-sr.html"></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/ernest-aljancic-sr.html">Ernest Aljancic</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/vladimir-dzurilla.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/rudi-hiti.html"> Rudi Hiti</a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/valeri-vasiliev.html"><br /><br /></a> <b>Slovakia</b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/vladimir-dzurilla.html"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/01/jiri-bicek.html">Jiri Bicek</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/vladimir-dzurilla.html">Vladimir Dzurilla </a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/08/jozef-golonka.html"><br />Jozef Golonka</a></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/07/igor-liba.html">Igor Liba</a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/03/vaclav-nedomansky.html">Vaclav Nedomansky</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/ladislav-trojak.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span> Ladislav Trojak<br /><br /></a><b>Sweden</b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/12/monte-afzelius.html"><br />Monte Afzelius</a><b><br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/lasse-bjorn.html">Lasse Bjorn</a><b><br /></b> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/anders-eldebrink.html">Anders Eldebrink</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/09/leif-holmqvist.html"><br />Leif Holmqvist</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/anders-eldebrink.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/01/tumba-johansson.html">Tumba Johansson</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/jorgen-jonsson.html"><br />Jorgen Jonsson</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/kenny-jonsson.html"><br />Kenny Jonsson</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/03/eje-lindstrom.html">Eje Lindstrom</a>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/01/tumba-johansson.html"> </a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/01/tumba-johansson.html"> </a> <a href="http://habslegends.blogspot.com/2007/06/mats-naslund.html">Mats Naslund</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/07/carl-goran-oberg.html">Carl-Goran Oberg</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/sigfrid-oberg.html">Sigfrid Oberg</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/borje-salming.html"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span>Borje Salming<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/ulf-sterner.html">Ulf Sterner&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/roland-stoltz.html">Roland Stoltz</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/lennart-lill-strimma-svedberg.html">Lennart Svedberg </a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/12/einar-svensson.html">Einar Svensson </a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/12/hakan-wickberg.html"><br />Hakan Wickberg</a><br /><br /><b>Switzerland<br /></b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/ferdinand-pic-cattini.html">Ferdinand Cattini</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/hans-joe-cattini.html">Hans Cattini</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/02/paul-dipietro.html">Paul Dipietro<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/pauli-jaks.html">Pauli Jaks</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/gebi-poltera.html">Gebi Poltera</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/uli-poltera.html">Uli Poltera</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/pauli-jaks.html"><br /></a></span><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/pauli-jaks.html"></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/richard-bibi-torriani.html">Richard "Bibi" Torriani&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/hans-martin-trepp.html">Hans-Martin Trepp</a><br /><br /><b>USA</b><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/tony-amonte.html"><br />Tony Amonte</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2009/04/hobey-baker.html">Hobey Baker</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/11/tony-amonte.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/dave-christian.html">Dave Christian</a></span><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/11/roger-christian.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Roger Christian</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/bill-cleary.html"> Bill Cleary</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/bob-cleary.html"><br />Bob Cleary</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/jim-craig.html"><br />Jim Craig</a>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/01/herb-drury.html">Herb Drury</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/mike-eruzione.html">Mike Eruzione<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/moose-goheen.html">Moose Goheen</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/01/willard-ikola.html">Willard Ikola</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/05/moose-goheen.html"><br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/03/steve-janaszak.html">Steve Janaszak </a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/mark-johnson.html">Mark Johnson </a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/ray-leblanc.html">Ray Leblanc&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/01/joe-linder.html">Joe Linder</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/john-mayasich.html"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span> John Mayasich</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/11/jack-mccartan.html"><br />Jack McCartan</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/weldy-olson.html">Weldy Olson</a><br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/06/winthrop-ding-palmer.html">Winthrop "Ding" Palmer </a> <br /><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2007/12/david-quinn.html">David Quinn<br /></a> <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/mike-richter.html">Mike Richter</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2010/12/andy-roach.html">Andy Roach</a>&nbsp; <a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/12/jim-sedin.html"><br />Jim Sedin</a>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/01/frank-coddy-winters.html">Coddy Winters</a><br /><a href="http://whalerslegends.blogspot.com/2009/06/scott-young.html">Scott Young</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2011/03/ken-yackel.html">Ken Yackel</a><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2010/10/eduard-novak.html"><br /></a></span><a href="http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2010/10/eduard-novak.html"> </a>&nbsp; </span></td> </tr></tbody></table>http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2008/10/international-hockey-legends.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-3171505959074744747Sun, 08 Jun 2014 05:43:00 +00002014-06-07T22:43:24.116-07:00Viktor BlinovViktor Blinov<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ayXRn8d9XRU/U5P3waopftI/AAAAAAAAsHs/bEnCXwt2g94/s1600/blinov.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ayXRn8d9XRU/U5P3waopftI/AAAAAAAAsHs/bEnCXwt2g94/s1600/blinov.png" height="275" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1968 Olympic gold medallists. Viktor Blinov is 2nd from the left in the front row.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In 1968 one of the up and coming stars of Soviet hockey was a fellow named Viktor Blinov (not to be confused with Yuri Blinov). However that year the 23 year old Olympic star died during a training session.<br /><br />Tass, the Soviet news agency, said "the hard shooting defenseman" fell while practicing with his club team, Moscow Spartak. He lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital where he died. It was later ruled to be a heart attack.<br /><br />He played three seasons with the Soviet national team, scoring 10 goals in 32 games. Blinov starred at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics, where the Soviets won a gold medal.<br /><br />An arena in his hometown of Omsk is named after him. The arena also hosts the Viktor Blinov Memorial Hockey Tournament.<br /><br /><br />http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/06/viktor-blinov.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-7857267864848342629Sun, 19 Jan 2014 03:46:00 +00002014-01-18T19:46:48.158-08:00Pavel PateraPavel PateraA lot of people are making a big deal about old man Jaromir Jagr playing in his 5th Olympic Games at Sochi 2014. Sure, he is 41, but he is a true legendary superstar after all.<br /><br />But did you know that Jagr isn't even the oldest player on the Czech Republic team? Both Martin Rucinsky and Pavel Patera are 42!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-upF28STHnRA/UttKAgA-yhI/AAAAAAAAquI/iqRMktbGlb8/s1600/patera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-upF28STHnRA/UttKAgA-yhI/AAAAAAAAquI/iqRMktbGlb8/s1600/patera.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>All three were members of the Czech Republic's 1998 gold medal team. Jagr and Rucinsky were regular NHLers. Patera didn't last nearly as long - playing just 32 games over two seasons, one with Dallas and one with Minnesota.<br /><br />"There are a lot of mental obstacles for him," said Craig Button, then the Stars director of player personnel. "It takes time and you can't speed it up."<br /><br />But the Stars scouting staff liked him a lot. They drafted him following the Olympics, thanks largely to the advice of former NHLer Jiri Hrdina.<br /><br />"He's a quiet leader who scores the big goals," Hrdina said, who also acted as Patera's translator in Dallas. "He's a very skilled offensive player who sees the puck very well. His teammates will be surprised he finds them with his passes." <br /><br />The whole organization saw potential.<br /><br />"He's not a dazzling player. He just makes smart plays," Stars chief amateur scout Tim Bernhardt said. "He has great knowledge of the game and the ability to read the ice. We see him as a third-line player, but maybe more if he can really adjust." <br /><br />He was talented enough to play many years in the NHL, but he did not make the adjustment to North American life very well, neither on and off the ice. On the ice Patera struggled with the heavy physical demands of the NHL regular season. He also played a foreign position defensively. In Czech hockey the center was expected to stay high, but in Dallas he was expected to be first in on the forecheck. Off the ice he struggled with the language.<br /><br />"I'm getting a lot of help from the other players, but I feel I will be able to communicate in English with them in three or four months," Patera said at training camp. "Mike Keane has helped me the most. He just explains things, and talks slowly to me." <br /><br />After being a star in Europe, Patera really wanted to test his game in the best league in the world. Coach Ken Hitchcock gave him a vote of confidence early by playing him on a line with the great shooter Brett Hull. <br /><br />"I never dreamed I would be on a line with Brett Hull and Mike Keane," Patera said. "It didn't just happen that this team won the Stanley Cup. This is a team of great players, and I know it's going to be tough to crack the lineup. This is another challenge for me in my hockey life." <br /><br />"We're going to have to complement him with people who are able to read off of his vision," Hitchcock said. "If you just have grinders who don't read off his vision, then I think you're not going to accomplish the things you can with this player." <br /><br />But Patera never clicked with Hull, and never did find chemistry with anyone else. After 12 games and 1 goal, he left to finish the season back in the Czech league.<br /><br />He came back to the NHL the following year, now with Minnesota thanks to an off-season trade. His stint in Minny wasn't much better - 20 games and one more goal, with the rest of the season spent in the minor leagues.<br /><br />Pavel Patera headed back overseas after that. First he went to Russia to play in the KHL and then he returned home to play for many more seasons in his hometown of Kladno.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/pavel-patera.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-7795012709874322420Sun, 19 Jan 2014 02:40:00 +00002014-01-18T18:40:15.213-08:00Stephen FoynStephen Foyn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Dta1gNi51A/Uts44WrFNmI/AAAAAAAAqt4/qLTBvo77VIY/s1600/stephenhoyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Dta1gNi51A/Uts44WrFNmI/AAAAAAAAqt4/qLTBvo77VIY/s1600/stephenhoyn.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div><br />This is Stephen Foyn, a Swedish born Norwegian hockey legend. In addition to starring with club team Sparta, Foyn played with Norway at the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympics as well as 3 World Championships.<br /><br />Foyn scored 6 goals in 16 games at the various Olympics. Norway was never much of a hockey power, so it makes Foyn's goal against Canada in 1984 a real highlight. It was Norway's only goal in an 8-1 loss.<br /><br />In fact, it was the last goal scored by Norway against Canada in the Olympics. In 30 years since, they have yet to score again.<br /><br />Norway will try again on February 13th, 2014 in Sochi.<br /><br /><br />http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/stephen-foyn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-4374735328243904858Mon, 13 Jan 2014 03:56:00 +00002014-01-12T19:56:53.845-08:00AustriaDel St. JohnDel St. JohnAdelbert St. John - Del to all who knew him - is a legend of hockey in Austria. Hey, what more can a kid from Pincher Creek, Alberta ever dream of?<br /><br />Del was born in Pincher Creek (some sources say it was Westlock) on October 6th, 1931. He played junior hockey in Edmonton with Oil Kings and went on to a professional career in the minor league circuit for the 1953-54 season, bouncing around from places like Johnstown, Louisville, Toledo and Milwaukee.<br /><br />The minor league life must not have been to the liking of the pint-sized St. John. There is no statistical record of him playing anywhere for the '54-55 season. Then in 1956 he headed overseas to embark on a long professional career before it was all that common for Canadians to do so.<br /><br />The first three seasons he jumped around, trying out Britain then Holland then Italy. In 1960 he moved to Austria and he never left.<br /><br />St. John played 20 more seasons in Austria, retiring in 1980 at the age of 49. Twice he represented Austria at the Olympics, and six times he led the nation at the World Championships (albeit it was at B and C pool levels).<br /><br />Del St. John passed away at the age of 79 in Klagenfurt, Austria.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/del-st-john.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-1318456379860116971Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:07:00 +00002014-01-09T09:10:41.671-08:00Anatoli TarasovAnatoli Tarasov<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0BnoHjIZIc4/UF5jKo9ocwI/AAAAAAAAQlg/6-bzw4lIdn0/s1600/tarasov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0BnoHjIZIc4/UF5jKo9ocwI/AAAAAAAAQlg/6-bzw4lIdn0/s400/tarasov.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anatoli Vladimirovitch Tarasov is regarded as the architect of the Soviet Union's powerful hockey empire. Yet he alienated the Soviet hockey higher-ups enough to land him in hot water several times, including for the 1972 Summit Series.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tarasov was a product of Soviet hockey himself. He was a workmanlike winger who was overshadowed by the flashy Vsevolod Bobrov. Tarasov lacked Bobrov's natural skill, but made up for with an incredible understanding of the game and a willingness to experiment.&nbsp;</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The two would continue their mostly friendly rivalry for years off the ice as well. Both became successful head coaches. Tarasov coached his country's national team to nine straight world amateur championships and three consecutive Olympic titles before he retired after his team's gold win at Sapporo in 1972. He was the undisputed king of Soviet hockey until he was abruptly unseated shortly after the 1972 Olympic win and shortly before the 1972 Summit Series showdown with the Canadians. He was replaced by Bobrov.</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But why?</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to Lawrence Martin's book The Red Machine, the final straw was a rivalry between Tarasov and the political bosses he answered to. Tarasov, with a history of insubordination if he felt it was beneficial for the team, clashed with the head of the Soviet Sports Committee, specifically a fellow named Mr. Pavlov, over money accepted from the Japanese. The Japanese offered Soviet players $200 a piece to play 2 exhibition games prior to the Olympics. This of course was very unacceptable in the Communist world and in the thinly veiled amateur sports world. Pavlov, who was closely monitored by the Kremlin, was furious.</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Following the Olympics Tarasov, and his national team assistant coach Arkady Chernyshov, asked for time off to rest from the&nbsp;</span>rigours<span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;of coaching. Pavlov agreed, but gave them both a permanent break. In essence they were&nbsp;fired from the national team. Tarasov was replaced by the skating legend Bobrov behind the bench.</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Initially it looked like a bad move for the Soviets. Bobrov led them to the silver medal in the World Championships. For most nations that would be a major accomplishment but that marked the first time the Soviets had finished without the gold in a decade. To make matters worse key players&nbsp; Anatoli Firsov and&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vitaly Davydov protested by not playing for the national team.</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bobrov ultimately wouldn't last long. He relaxed the stringent and rigid game Tarasov had preached and was so successful with. The players quickly grew to appreciate the freedom and responsibility, and it showed in the performance at the 1972 Summit Series. However the political bosses would favour a young up and coming coach named Viktor Tikhonov.</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tarasov seemingly disappeared from hockey after his dismissal. He continued to coach the Red Army club team until 1974 and supervised the Soviet Gold Puck tournament for boys. More than 1,000,000 youngsters were registered for the various youth competitions.&nbsp;</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tarasov also travelled the world attending seminars and making personal appearances. In 1987 he served as a coaching consultant to the NHL's Vancouver Canucks during training camp.</span></div>http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2012/09/anatoli-tarasov.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-6320808863258796801Tue, 07 Jan 2014 03:49:00 +00002014-01-06T19:49:59.887-08:00Ferdinand CattiniFerdinand "Pic" Cattini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UZAbBnvcbHo/Ust3spcLtmI/AAAAAAAAqjU/f0yb_chdDEw/s1600/cattini2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UZAbBnvcbHo/Ust3spcLtmI/AAAAAAAAqjU/f0yb_chdDEw/s1600/cattini2.jpg" height="200" width="163" /></a></div>This is Ferdinand "Pic" Cattini. He teamed with his brother Hans "Joe" Cattini and Swiss hockey legend Bibi Torriani to lead HC Davos and the Swiss national team for the better part of the 1930s and 1940s.<br /><br />Pic, considered to be the most personable of the three, was said to be an elegant player with great anticipation for the game. He and his brother were considered to be the most "Canadian" styled players in Europe in these early days.<br /><br />Pic scored 87 goals in 107 games with the national team. The brothers' greatest accomplishments was helping Switzerland win gold at the home Olympics in St. Moritz in 1948.<br /><br />The Cattini brothers were electricians by trade. Pic later operated a hotel in Davos, but died at the age of 52 in 1969.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/ferdinand-pic-cattini.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-1598557423849477526Tue, 07 Jan 2014 03:39:00 +00002014-01-06T19:39:53.848-08:00Hans CattiniHans "Joe" Cattini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGGY2niQxRc/Ust1HhUrqtI/AAAAAAAAqjI/aWo7Iu3EI2w/s1600/cattini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGGY2niQxRc/Ust1HhUrqtI/AAAAAAAAqjI/aWo7Iu3EI2w/s1600/cattini.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>This is Hans "Joe" Cattini. Together with brother Ferdinand (aka Pic) he formed a line with Bibi Torriani, generally regarded as the early legend of hockey in Switzerland. The trio led HC Davos to 18 league championships and the starring role on the national team.<br /><br />"Joe," who doubled as an electrician, was the most underrated of the three. He did switch to defense towards the end of his career, dulling his statistical output. In 111 games with the national team he scored 54 goals.<br /><br />Inducted to the IIHF hockey Hall of Fame in 1998, Cattini's greatest accomplishment was helping Switzerland capture the bronze medal at the home Olympics in St. Moritz in 1948.<br /><br />The Cattini brothers were considered to be very "Canadian" in their style of hockey.<br /><br /><br />http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/hans-joe-cattini.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-6638376796341688020Tue, 07 Jan 2014 03:20:00 +00002014-01-06T19:20:22.995-08:00Uli PolteraUli Poltera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3C4DrGhAFYw/UstyQtaaieI/AAAAAAAAqi0/f__Hvm0tN2I/s1600/uli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3C4DrGhAFYw/UstyQtaaieI/AAAAAAAAqi0/f__Hvm0tN2I/s1600/uli.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ulrich "Uli" Poltera (sometimes known as Ueli) was the older brother of Geb Poltera and cousin of Hans-Martin Trepp.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The three grew up playing the game as a youngsters and went on to lead EHC Arosa to seven consecutive Swiss championships in the 1950s. he also was a mainstay on the Swiss national team, serving as captain at times and scoring 112 goals in 111 games.</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hockey researcher Patrick Houda described Uli as an "u</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">npredictable player who caused a lot of trouble for opposing defensemen with his shifty moves and criss-crossing.|</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Uli Poltera passed away at a hospital in Chur, Switzerland on March 22, 1994.</span></div>http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/uli-poltera.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-3138376996768830041Tue, 07 Jan 2014 03:11:00 +00002014-01-06T19:11:49.691-08:00Hans-Martin TreppHans-Martin Trepp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vH_t7zSqbyA/UstwU_itdCI/AAAAAAAAqio/wOXFqmSoiYk/s1600/hans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vH_t7zSqbyA/UstwU_itdCI/AAAAAAAAqio/wOXFqmSoiYk/s1600/hans.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He was a hair dresser by trade but a sportsman by heart. Hans-Martin Trepp was said to be an excellent skier as well as a golfer and tennis player. But he was best known as a hockey player.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Born November 9, 1922 in Arosa, Switzerland, he grew up playing the game with cousins Gebi and Ueli Poltera. The trio would play together through childhood and as pros with EHC Arosa and of course on the national team. The trio led Arosa to seven consecutive league titles. Trepp represented Switzerland 94 times.</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An elegant and speedy skater and clever stickhandler, Trepp was a showman who, unlike his cousins, could be accused of playing too individually at times.</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hans-Martin Trepp died as a result of a skull fracture when he fell down from the stairs at his home. he passed on August 17, 1970.</span></div>http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/hans-martin-trepp.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-512802946803418397Tue, 07 Jan 2014 02:57:00 +00002014-01-06T18:57:31.880-08:00Gebi PolteraGebi Poltera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k8ZUZ1IQ6BQ/UsttCuffMNI/AAAAAAAAqic/6VGf3t_YDxo/s1600/gebi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k8ZUZ1IQ6BQ/UsttCuffMNI/AAAAAAAAqic/6VGf3t_YDxo/s1600/gebi.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;">Gebhard "Gebi" Poltéra was b</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;">orn on December 14, 1923, in Arosa, Switzerland. He grew up by an outdoor rink where he learned the game alongside his brother Ueli and his cousin Hans-Martin Trepp. It was the beginning of a legendary line for EHC Arosa, a top team in Switzerland until the 1980s. And of course he was a mainstay on the national team.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;">The trio was the answer to the line of archrivals HC Davos with IIHF Hall of Famers Bibi Torriani and the Cattini brothers, Ferdinand and Hans. It was an epic though friendly rivalry.&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;">Poltéra</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;debuted in the top league in 1939 as a 16-year-old and won seven consecutive championships (1951-1957) with EHC Arosa.&nbsp;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;">Poltéra had 108 international appearances and scored 98 goals. He played in two Olympic Games and six World Championships. His résumé includes a bronze medal at the 1948 Olympics on home ice in St. Moritz. He also won bronze in three World Championships.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;">Poltéra</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;played until 1965 when a wrist injury forced him off the ice. He briefly tried coaching before starting a successful career as an interior decorator.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/gebi-poltera.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-8761515084325482437Mon, 06 Jan 2014 21:48:00 +00002014-01-06T13:48:13.851-08:00Karel GutKarel GutKarel Gut passed away today, January 6th, 2014. He was 86.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJpPpAYzL1A/UsskfVLx5CI/AAAAAAAAqhk/SPYUN6dbuqE/s1600/gut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJpPpAYzL1A/UsskfVLx5CI/AAAAAAAAqhk/SPYUN6dbuqE/s1600/gut.jpg" /></a></div>Gut was an offensively talented defenseman who was voted as the best defenseman at the 1955 World Championships. Often paired with Frantisek Tikal, he was a mainstay on the Czechoslovakian national team throughout the 1950s. He represented his country in 114 matches (scoring 34 goals) and served as team captain from 1952-1960.<br /><br />Gut was better known to western audiences as a very successful national team coach from 1973 through 1979, winning world titles in 1976 and '77 and a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.<br /><br />Gut is a member of both the Czech and IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/karel-gut.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-1350697298671071709Sat, 04 Jan 2014 08:42:00 +00002014-01-04T10:02:56.128-08:00Constantine CantacuzinoRomaniaConstantine "Bazu" CantacuzinoRomania is not exactly known as a hockey power, but they do have a long albeit thin history with the game.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AR3fDSwEw74/UsfJWZch95I/AAAAAAAAqgk/fC1VCr-1zuo/s1600/bazu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AR3fDSwEw74/UsfJWZch95I/AAAAAAAAqgk/fC1VCr-1zuo/s1600/bazu.jpg" /></a></div>And if early pioneer Constantine "Bazu" Cantacuzino does not top the list of greatest players, he certainly tops the list of most fascinating life story.<br /><br />Cantacuzino played from 1928 through to World War II. He was described as a swift skater, crafty stickhandler and intelligent attacker. He led the Romanians through five World Championship tournaments.<br /><br />But off the ice is where his story turns really amazing. He was described as a real-life playboy. He was the kind of guy they would have to get Leonardo Dicaprio to act as if they ever made a movie about him. And the really could.<br /><br />Cantacuzino came from one of Romania's wealthiest families, but he had equal abundance of charm and personality as he had riches. People loved him and his amazing stunts. He was adored as a race car/bike driver and as airplane stuntman.<br /><br />His ability to manoeuvre an airplane made him one of the most decorated Romanian pilots during World War II. He is said to have shot down more enemy planes than any other pilot in the Romanian Air Force. He is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantin_Cantacuzino_(aviator)">more celebrated in Romania as an aviator and war hero</a> than as a hockey player.<br /><br />Of course the fall out to World War II was not good to Romania and in particular to Cantacuzino. The country was soon to fall under the oppressive control of communist Soviet Union. Cantacuzino fled to Spain, leaving all his land and riches behind. He remarried - to actress Nadia Gray - and secured enough to buy a plane and earn a reasonable living as a stunt pilot.<br /><br />Constantine Cantacuzino passed away in Madrid in 1958. He was just 52 years old.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/constantine-bazu-cantacuzino.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-4918334087868154711Sat, 04 Jan 2014 08:23:00 +00002014-01-04T00:23:03.879-08:00Sigfrid ObergSigfrid Oberg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKXVGo0MDN4/UsfExN54GZI/AAAAAAAAqgY/ef4JfAkCroA/s1600/oberg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKXVGo0MDN4/UsfExN54GZI/AAAAAAAAqgY/ef4JfAkCroA/s320/oberg.JPG" width="244" /></a></div>One of the earliest Swedish hockey sensations this fellow: Sigfrid Oberg of Stockholm. But he was far from your stereotypical Swede.<br /><br />"Sigge" was a fan favorite who played his entire career (1925-1939) with Hammarby IF, winning four Swedish championship titles. He was known for his physical play. He loved to bowl over an opponent to take the puck or attempt to carry the puck right through the defender. With his speed and size he was able to catch many opponents by surprise. He liked to shoot first and think later.<br /><br />Oberg represented Sweden internationally 31 times, including at the 1928 Olympics where they won a silver medal.<br /><br />Sadly this great sportsman met an early demise. In April of 1949 police found the body of 42 year old Oberg drowned in a possible suicide.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/sigfrid-oberg.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-1369904266914738902Sat, 04 Jan 2014 08:07:00 +00002014-01-04T00:07:16.759-08:00Roland StoltzRoland Stoltz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B83fntIllVI/UsfAnd7ZQ7I/AAAAAAAAqgM/yCwUCscUkBE/s1600/stoltz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B83fntIllVI/UsfAnd7ZQ7I/AAAAAAAAqgM/yCwUCscUkBE/s320/stoltz.JPG" width="244" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sweden has produced some amazing defensemen over the years - from Borje Salming to Nicklas Lidstrom.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">One name NHL fans likely will not recognize as another great Swedish defender is that of Roland Stoltz.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 6'2" 190lb native of Stockholm paired with Lasse Bjorn on the blue line to give Sweden a world class tandem in the late 1950s and much of the 1960s. They&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;">dominated the Swedish Elite League with Djurgarden for the better part of both decades, leading the team to 9 Swedish championships. Stoltz was even named the player of the year in 1959.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;">The duo also formed the foundation of the national team, twice becoming World Champions - once in 1957 and again in 1962.&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;">Stoltz played in 199 international games but was at his best at the 1963 World Championships in Stockholm. Stoltz was named the tournament's best defenseman and helped Sweden win the silver medal.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;">Stoltz would also lead Sweden to a silver medal at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Austria.</span><br /><span style="line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;">Stoltz became a popular hockey broadcaster on Swedish television after his career as a player was over.</span><br /><span style="line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 20.984375px; text-align: justify;">Roland Stoltz's career was recognized in 1999 by the IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame.</span>http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/roland-stoltz.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-8221239649921509409Sat, 04 Jan 2014 07:45:00 +00002014-01-03T23:45:23.851-08:00Vlastimil BubnikVlastimil Bubnik<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-qZPRno6pg/Use6op2oKuI/AAAAAAAAqf8/isz6zER2Ocw/s1600/bubnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-qZPRno6pg/Use6op2oKuI/AAAAAAAAqf8/isz6zER2Ocw/s320/bubnik.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>Vlastimil Bubnik was a two sport star. Not only is he a legend of Czech hockey, but he was also an excellent footballer. He represented the former Czechoslovakia in international soccer matches, including at the 1958 World Cup and the 1960 European championships.<br /><br />But hockey was his main arena. In the 1960s he was one of the top players internationally. The IIHF Hall of Famer scored 121 goals in 127 international matches, winning 3 World Championship medals (2 silver and 1 bronze) and an Olympic bronze medal (in 1964). When he retired he was was the highest scoring player in hockey history at the Olympics.<br /><br />Bubnik had quite the career at home, too, of course. The long time HC Kometa Brno captain led the way with 306 goals in 287 Czech Extraliga Games. In 12 seasons he helped Brno win 11 national championships!<br /><br />Bubnik, who ended his career with 2 seasons in the city of Ostrava before 3 final seasons in Austria, was described as speedy forward whose trademark was his craftiness. He had a whole arsenal of tricks up his sleeve, leaving opposing goaltenders and defense with no idea what to expect on each rush.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/vlastimil-bubnik.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-8783232886404039967Fri, 03 Jan 2014 22:53:00 +00002014-01-03T14:53:12.697-08:00Valentin KuzinValentin Kuzin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNxoGaVnt7o/Usc_QR0H1iI/AAAAAAAAqcA/x25Bc14Lk7U/s1600/kuzin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNxoGaVnt7o/Usc_QR0H1iI/AAAAAAAAqcA/x25Bc14Lk7U/s320/kuzin.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>In the 1950s forward Valentin Kuzin was reported to be the fastest of the Soviet hockey players. With his tremendous speed he formed a dangerous line with Yuri Krylov and Aleksander Uvarov.<br /><br />Kuzin represented the Soviet Union in 50 matches, scoring 27 goals. Assist statistics are all but non-existent in the Soviet Union for this time period but he was reported to have been an excellent playmaker and more of a passer than shooter. He was a part of the Soviets' 1956 Olympic that won gold in 1956, scoring a vital goal against Canada. He also participated in the 1954 and 1955 World Championships.<br /><br />In league play he represented Moscow Dynamo in 255 league games, often as captain. He scored 156 goals.<br /><br />Apparently Kuzin was quite the soccer player as well, excelling at that sport during the summer time.<br /><br />Kuzin made his living making tools and was known for his excellent skate sharpening. He did many of his teammates sharpening duties when played.<br /><br />Valentin Kuzin passed away in 1994. He was 67 years old.<br /><br /><br />http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/valentin-kuzin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-8127591096660782898Fri, 03 Jan 2014 22:34:00 +00002014-01-03T14:34:44.625-08:00Leonids VedejsLeonids Vedejs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NDtwxLRNlpc/Usc48btt2kI/AAAAAAAAqbw/0ab_lbRijR0/s1600/leonides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NDtwxLRNlpc/Usc48btt2kI/AAAAAAAAqbw/0ab_lbRijR0/s1600/leonides.jpg" /></a></div><br />This happy fellow is Leonids Vedejs, an early hockey legend in Latvia. His story is quite a fascinating one to tell.<br /><br />Leonids was born on October 12, 1908 in Latvia, then still an independent country. He grew up loving two things - his country and hockey.<br /><br />He was good at hockey, too. He represented Latvia in 34 international matches, a record until modern times. A forward turned defenseman, in many of those games he was the playing coach. And in 1936 he represented Latvia at the Olympics not only as a hockey player but as the country's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies.<br /><br />Leonids hung up his skates during World War II and focused on coaching and building hockey in Latvia. But when the war was over the communist Soviets took control of his country, Leonids Vedejs fled.<br /><br />After a brief period of time in Germany, Leonids ended up in the United States. He spent most of the rest of his life there, though he also lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a while. In both countries he continued to teach young hockey players.<br /><br />When Latvia regained independence in the 1990s Leonids was the number one supporter of Latvian hockey. He even supported the Latvian national women's hockey team financially.<br /><br />Leonids Vedejs passed away on February 4th, 1995 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/leonids-vedejs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-607121105581281573Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:12:00 +00002014-01-03T14:24:39.747-08:00Harijs VitolinsLatviaHarijs VitolinsProbably not a lot of NHL fans know the name Harijs Violins. But for three generations now that has been the grand name of hockey in Latvia.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jG7pyKuvkWI/Usb243l-MBI/AAAAAAAAqbU/Z13yS9aR7Og/s1600/vitolins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jG7pyKuvkWI/Usb243l-MBI/AAAAAAAAqbU/Z13yS9aR7Og/s1600/vitolins.jpg" /></a></div>Lets go in reverse order. Some NHL fans may remember this hockey card. It came out in 1990 and the photo was taken from the 1989 Soviet club team tour of the NHL. Vitolins, centre for Dynamo Riga, is seen here lining up beside a member of the Minnesota North Stars.<br /><br />In a couple of short years the Soviet Union collapsed and all their great players began getting full permission to pursue hockey careers in North America. Vitolins made the jump in 1992-93, though spent much of the season playing in Switzerland.<br /><br />In 1993-94 Vitolins returned to North America. A draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets, Vitolins played a nice role on the Jets farm team in Moncton that season. He was rewarded for his strong play with a call up to the Jets. It lasted 8 games in which he never registered a point.<br /><br />Though Vitolins showed good progress in the AHL and had his cup of coffee in the NHL, he opted to return to Europe after that season. He played out the rest of his hockey days in Switzerland. He finally retired in 2005.<br /><br />Though he fell in love with Switzerland he never forgot his home country of Latvia. Seven times he represented the young country at the World championships, helping to cement the country's status in the A pool. The highlight of his national team career came in 2002 when he helped Latvia qualify for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. He proceeded to score 2 goals and 4 points in 4 Olympic games and also acted as the country's flag bearer.<br /><br />Harijs Vitolins has returned to Latvia and is a coach nowadays. It seems only fitting as he is the third generation of Latvian hockey royalty.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iukO3e3KYAk/Usb7Xxq7UiI/AAAAAAAAqbg/tKR_AV0OhJA/s1600/vitolins2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iukO3e3KYAk/Usb7Xxq7UiI/AAAAAAAAqbg/tKR_AV0OhJA/s200/vitolins2.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Accounts are sketchy due to poor statistical record keeping, but his father, Harijs Vitolins II, had a brief career in Riga. But his grandfather, the original Harijs Vitolins, was the real hockey legend of Latvia.<br /><br />Born in Riga in 1915, the elder Vitolins was a winger-turned-defenceman who was described as having "an excellent understanding of the game." He represented Latvia at the 1939 World Championships but never represented the Soviet Union internationally when they incorporated Latvia into their fold. Vitolins continued playing for Riga until 1956 and coached there until 1975!http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2014/01/harijs-vitolins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-8095196169412335742Tue, 31 Dec 2013 03:53:00 +00002013-12-30T19:53:12.762-08:00Moe BenoitMoe Benoit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2qq8hfSmTpQ/UsI_ItBByQI/AAAAAAAApHE/atkimLkVzpU/s1600/benoit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2qq8hfSmTpQ/UsI_ItBByQI/AAAAAAAApHE/atkimLkVzpU/s1600/benoit.jpg" /></a></div>Defenceman Moe Benoit, a gold medallist for Canada at the 1959 IIHF World Championship and silver medallist at the 1960 Olympics, passed away in Dayton, Ohio, on December 10. He was 81 years old. <br /><br />Benoit was born in Valleyfield, Quebec, and played three years of senior hockey with the Belleville McFarlands (1956-59). It was during this period that he won the Allan Cup (in 1958). The McFarlands then went to Czechoslovakia to play at the World Championship, winning seven of eight games and the gold medal!<br /><br />The following year the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen qualified to represent Canada at the Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. Benoit was asked to join the team as an add-on to bolster the blue line. The hard hitting, hard shooting Benoit helped Canada to the silver medal. <br /><br />Professionally Benoit played in the IHL for decade before settling in Dayton and getting into the insurance business.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/moe-benoit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-8275437903279778368Sun, 29 Dec 2013 01:27:00 +00002013-12-28T17:27:13.534-08:00Don RopeDon Rope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yNSykegW3c/Ur94TGdV8AI/AAAAAAAAkyI/h9_ALd55FXU/s1600/donrope.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yNSykegW3c/Ur94TGdV8AI/AAAAAAAAkyI/h9_ALd55FXU/s1600/donrope.jpeg" /></a></div>Don Rope was a fantastic prospect out of Winnipeg. The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Rope as a prospect, which must have thrilled Rope who idolized the great Syl Apps.<br /><br />The Leafs brought Rope out to Toronto to play junior, first with St. Mikes (where he roomed with Tim Horton) and then the Marlies. While with the Marlies he also enrolled at the University of Toronto, playing hockey there, too, as well as soccer. With the guidance of Marlies head coach and Leafs legend Joe Primeau Rope blossomed and helped the team win the Allan Cup in 1950.<br /><br />"A lot of guys in the pro ranks today don't belong on the same sheet of ice as (Don Rope)," said one writer. <br /><br />Rope did attend Toronto Maple Leafs training camps, but never did turn pro. He went on to a long to a decade long career playing with the very competitive Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen senior hockey team. He also represented Canada at two Olympic Games - 1956 at Cortina, Italy and 1960 at Squaw Valley, Calif. - winning bronze and silver. He also helped Canada win a silver medal at the 1962 World Championships.<br /><br />Rope became a high school physical education instructor at Cambridge, Ontario. He was a noted tennis player but, with wif Benita, became a very successful gymnastics instructor. They worked with many of Canada's top young gymnasts including his own three daughters. One daughter, Patti, competed in gymnastics at the 1976 Montreal Olympic games.<br /><br />Don Rope passed away July 28, 2009.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/don-rope.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-7677832492040315343Sun, 29 Dec 2013 00:55:00 +00002013-12-28T16:55:44.761-08:00Weldy OlsonWeldy Olson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmkqrRR9WdA/Ur9sCZswUtI/AAAAAAAAkcY/3rB7f7fNfJk/s1600/weldy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmkqrRR9WdA/Ur9sCZswUtI/AAAAAAAAkcY/3rB7f7fNfJk/s320/weldy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Weldy Olson was the youngest of nine brothers, all of whom played and loved the game of hockey. But it was the youngster who had the most successful career. He played in 2 Olympics and was a regular on the United States national team in the late 1950s.<br /><br /><div>Born in 1932 in Marquette, Michigan, Weldy went on to a famous career at Michigan State. He played every game for the Spartans between 1951 and 1955 and set school scoring records with 125 points in the process. He was also the team's co-captain and MVP.<br /><br />Upon graduation Olson joined the United States national team in time to represent his country at the 1956 Olympics in Cortina, D'Ampezzo, Italy. With 5 goals in 7 games, Olson helped secure a silver medal for the Americans.<br /><br />Olson would spend the next three seasons with the US National team. The Americans finished out of the medals in the 1958 and 1959 World Championships.<br /><br />Weldy served as team captain for the '59 Worlds team and was determined to return to the Olympics in 1960. Those games were played in the United States at Squaw Valley, California. With 2 goals in 7 contests Olson was able to help USA win Olympic gold on home ice! The victory is now remembered as The Forgotten Miracle.<br /><br />Olson retired shortly after those Olympics. He went on to be a long time amateur referee, coach and administrator. He helped to build and manage rinks in Michigan and published a hockey magazine.<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="395" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=159513&amp;site=bluejackets" width="640"></iframe> <br /></div>http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/weldy-olson.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-5038010326596733018Sat, 28 Dec 2013 02:28:00 +00002013-12-27T18:28:55.661-08:00Ivan TregubovIvan Tregubov<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rfwUDlmPddM/Ur43SabKHGI/AAAAAAAAjOs/bY5EZp2M414/s1600/tregubov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rfwUDlmPddM/Ur43SabKHGI/AAAAAAAAjOs/bY5EZp2M414/s320/tregubov.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />Many hockey fans will acknowledge Nikolai Sologubov as an early pioneer of defensemen in Russian hockey history. But not many know about his long time partner Ivan Tregubov.<br /><br />The duo were the top defensive pairing in Europe for many years. They were arguably Russia's top pairing of all time until the 1980s when Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov patrolled the blue line.<br /><br />Sologubov and Tregubov were so good that even the NHL took notice. Boston GM Lynn Patrick said, "there are five players on their team who can move up to the Bruins, and there's a commission of $2,500 for anyone who can get either Sologubov or Tregubov into Boston."<br /><br />Sologubov was the flashier, more offensive star while Tregubov (nicknamed "Ivan The Terrible" by western media) played a physical and intimidating game. His game thrived on emotion, something that was outwardly rare in Soviet hockey.<br /><br />Tregubov represented the Soviet Union in 44 international games, scoring 14 goals with his heavy shot. He won World championship and Olympic gold in 1956. He was named as the IIHF Best Defenseman in 1958 and 1961.<br /><br />At the club team level Tregubov played a decade with CSKA Mscow before finishing his career with Khimik Voskresensk. He scored 128 goals in 350 games while winning 6 league titles.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/ivan-tregubov.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-4504730154557549611Sat, 28 Dec 2013 02:10:00 +00002013-12-27T18:10:17.184-08:00Nikolai PuchkovNikolai Puchkov<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5E0V-mkYqs/Ur4y6xyx1KI/AAAAAAAAjOM/6KSE1V18eAk/s1600/puchkov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5E0V-mkYqs/Ur4y6xyx1KI/AAAAAAAAjOM/6KSE1V18eAk/s400/puchkov.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Long before Vladislav Tretiak took the goaltending world by storm, there was a fellow named Nikolai Georgievich Puchkov tending the net for the Soviet Union. He was the inspiration for Tretiak and a legend in his own right.<br /><br />When the Soviets arrived on the international scene in the mid-1950s. Puchkov was the man entrusted to stop the puck. He did so very well. He represented the Soviet Union national team 90 times in 10 seasons, winning gold at the 1956 Olympics and bronze at the 1960 games. He also participated in 5 World Championships.<br /><br />Puchkov was becoming so renowned in the hockey world that the 1956 Cleveland Barons of the AHL reportedly tried to offer him a 2 year contract at $10,000 per season. That offer came after the '56 Olympics in which Puchkov shutout Canada and USA in back-to-back games - something never accomplished in Olympic history before or since.<br /><br />In league play he led CSKA Moscow to nine league titles. Eight times he was an all star. Though statistics are very sketchy, we know he played a total of 220 games. It is uncertain if any of those games featured Puchkov wearing any more protection than his trademark leather cycling &nbsp;helmet.<br /><br />Many of Puchkov's league games were played outside. The great book Kings of the Ice tells a tale of Puchkov forced to withstand -40C temperatures in Siberia. After a long stretch of inactivity for the goaltender he allowed a goal from the neutral zone, drawing the ire of coach Anatoli Tarasov.<br /><br />Tarasov is said to have told Puchkov he will have to toughen up. A couple of weeks later Puchkov was said to be toughening himself by walking barefoot outdoors in -20C Moscow weather<br /><br />Other times he was said to have worn only a thick jacket and had teammates fire pucks at him to toughen up.<br /><br />Tarasov and Puchkov inevitably had a falling apart. Puchkov was a rare Soviet player who studied English and Canadian hockey. He angered Tarasov by declaring Canada was a superior hockey nation. He also criticized Tarasov - the famous tactician - for his lack of knowledge of goaltending.<br /><br />Tarasov responded by limiting Puchkov's time on the national team and desperately searching for a goaltender as good. Though international success was plentiful Tarasov never did find a great goaltender until Tretiak arrived. By then Tarasov, too, was gone from the national team.<br /><br />Puchkov retired in 1964 and coached in Leningrad for 15 years, furthering his rivalry with Tarasov. He also coached in Sweden and Finland.<br /><br /><br />http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/nikolai-puchkov.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28301633.post-3895205515163889162Sat, 28 Dec 2013 01:29:00 +00002013-12-27T17:33:39.233-08:00AustraliaRussell JonesRussell JonesIn Australia's top hockey league - the IHV Premier A League - the victorious champions are awarded the Russell Jones Premiership Cup.<br /><br />Admittedly that pales in comparison to the Stanley Cup, but it got me curious. Who was Russell Jones? And why did Australia's small but enthusiastic hockey community honour him so?<br /><br />Russell Jones was an early pioneer of hockey "Down Under." He played with the Melbourne Demons from 1945 through 1964. He also coached the Demons for 14 of those seasons.<br /><br />He also led Australia to their hey day internationally. Australia, believe it or not, qualified for and competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics. They never won a game and were outscored 93-10, but Jones did his country proud with 2 goals and 5 points.<br /><br />He also was a part of the 1962 national team that participated in the World Championship. Australia finished 13th, but they defeated Denmark 6-2 for their very first international hockey victory!<br /><br />Jones captained the national team through to 1964 when they failed to qualify for the '64 Olympics.<br /><br />The Jones family is the first family of hockey in Australia. Russell's son Martin is Referee In Chief down under, while grandsons Sean and Mitchell are notably players as well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9UBuvndH18/Ur4pdcnip_I/AAAAAAAAjI4/dII__SQXTZY/s1600/2009_jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9UBuvndH18/Ur4pdcnip_I/AAAAAAAAjI4/dII__SQXTZY/s400/2009_jones.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Russell Jones passed away at the age of 86 in 2012. He continued to play hockey right to the end.http://internationalhockeylegends.blogspot.com/2013/12/russell-jones.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joe Pelletier)0